Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Central Library 20 years ago

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The maps compare the changes made to the Central library from 20 years ago to prsent.

Overall, the library was modrenized by offereing a cafe along with a digitalized information room. Whereas, seating area and adult non-fiction books were removed.

Earlier to rebfurbishment the library had a gaming room occupying the north-west corner of the floor. Opposite to it was room where children`s books were displayed, on the right. Central seating area was removed completely with adult non fiction books on right and adult fiction section on left. There was also an area designated for print media such as; newspapers and magazines. Another service, the enquiry desk for tickets, information of issuance and return of books present on the south-eastren corner of the map.

After, remodeling enquiry desk was reformed to a cafe while print room was replaced with electronic media such as; computers to search for information. Beyond the cafe was self-service machines to look for books and return with an information centre next to it sandwiched by adult fiction books on other side. Previous children area was swaped with gaming room, making it lecture room at the present. New childrens area has comfortable seating to enjoy storry telling events along with childrens fiction books. Gaming room was replaced to promote reading among children.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad change from the older layout to a more modern library, and your overview notes the café and removal of the central seating. Several key comparisons are also included, such as the former reading room becoming a computer room and the children’s area changing. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the former gaming/media room is now the children’s fiction and storytelling room, while the former children’s-books room is now a lecture room—not the reverse as your account suggests. The information desk and self-service machines are also described imprecisely, and the overview omits the major reorganisation of book sections. Select the main changes accurately and explain them more clearly to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overall statement, and paragraphs describing the earlier and current layouts. This gives the reader a basic route through the comparison. However, progression within the final paragraph is difficult to follow, particularly in “Beyond the cafe was self-service machines to look for books and return with an information centre next to it sandwiched by adult fiction books on other side.” The relationships between locations and services are not clear, and “After” does not smoothly connect the change to the next point. Use clearer location-based sequencing, such as moving from the entrance up one side and then the other, and use reference words only when their meaning is unmistakable. This would make the organisation more consistently easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of vocabulary relevant to describing a library, including “refurbishment,” “designated,” “reformed,” and “sandwiched.” These choices show an effort to go beyond basic labels. However, several spellings and word choices reduce precision, including “prsent,” “modrenized,” “offereing,” “rebfurbishment,” and “storry telling.” Some expressions are also unnatural or inaccurate for this task: “digitalized information room” does not clearly describe the computer room, and “information of issuance” is not a natural way to describe book loans. Prefer accurate, straightforward terms from the plan, such as “computer room,” “information desk,” and “book returns,” and check spelling carefully. This will make your vocabulary more reliable and easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and attempts at more complex structures, including the contrast beginning “Whereas” and the clause “making it lecture room at the present.” However, some sentence patterns are incomplete or awkward, and errors in articles, tense, agreement, and punctuation sometimes make the meaning harder to follow. For example, “Another service, the enquiry desk … present” lacks a finite verb, while “After, remodeling enquiry desk was reformed to a cafe” has an unclear sentence structure and missing articles. The opening also needs a complete, correctly formed comparison. Practise building clear sentences with a subject and verb, and check articles and past-tense forms when describing the earlier plan. More accurate complex sentences would improve control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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